Interactive teaching system

ABSTRACT

A teaching system comprising a console furnished with a tape recorder and a graphic recorder, each adapted to be controlled from recorded signals produced by the tape recorder. Control apparatus is provided for enabling the user to address recorded lecture material, or recorded answer material, at will, under the guidance of a lecture map. The student can listen to a recorded lecture without interruption, or can interrupt it at will in response to suggestions on the lecture map of questions that may be raised by the lecture. When the lecture is interrupted, the recorded answer material may be addressed to produce a recorded answer to the question selected from the map. At appropriate intervals during the lecture or answer recordings, the graphic recorder may be utilized to present visual material supplementing the recorded audio material.

United States Patent [191 Wilson et al.

[ INTERACTIVE TEACHING SYSTEM [75] Inventors: Stewart W. Wilson,Concord; John W. Ericson, Marblehead, both of [21] App]. No.: 294,475

[52] US. Cl. 35/8 R; 35/9 A; 346/33 M;

35/36 [5] Int. Cl? G09B 7/00 [58] Field of Search 35/8 R, 8 A, 9 R, 9 A,

35/9 B, 35 C, 36, 37, 48 R; l78/l8, l9, DIG. 35; 346/33 M; 360/74, 62,79, 9!

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,341,276 9/!967 Prater352/37 3,4l6,242 l2/l968 Nisbet 35/48 R 3,425,140 2/1969 Dillon et al.35/36 3,537,l90 ll/l970 Serrell et al, 35/9 A 3,538,626 ll/l97U Frank35/48 R 3,541,271 I [/1970 .loslow et al. l79/l00,2 S 3,582,956 6/l97lHuston et al. 346/33 MC 3,584,396 6/197] Hannah 6! a1. 35/9 A 3,629,956l2/l97l Thomas et al, 35/9 A 3,662,]21 5/l972 Cruger 35/35 C X OTHERPUBLICATIONS Patent Office Academy, Utility-Patentability", Dept.

[ Dec. 9, 1975 of Commerce, [966, Section 7Bl, pp. l-4. Patent officeAcademy, Unobviousness", Commerce, 1972, Section 7C, pp. l 6.

Dept. of

Primary Examiner-R0bert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Vance Y. HumAttorney, Agent, or Firm-John W. Ericson [57] ABSTRACT A teaching systemcomprising a console furnished with a tape recorder and a graphicrecorder. each adapted to be controlled from recorded signals producedby the tape recorder. Control apparatus is provided for enabling theuser to address recorded lecture material, or recorded answer material,at will, under the guidance of a lecture map. The student can listen toa recorded lecture without interruption, or can in terrupt it at will inresponse to suggestions on the leeture map of questions that may beraised by the lec ture. When the lecture is interrupted, the recordedanswer material may be addressed to produce a recorded answer to thequestion selected from the map. At appropriate intervals during thelecture or answer recordings, the graphic recorder may be utilized topresent visual material supplementing the recorded audio material.

24 Claims, 25 Drawing Figures SPEAKER TlTLE- AUTHOR 0 O 0 STOP FORWARDREWIND LECTURE O START LECTURE ADDRESS ANSOWER O O '0 VOL. CK cPa EJECTUS. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 1 of 20 3,924,339

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U.S. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 15 of 20 3,924,339

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1. In an interactive communication system, the combination comprising alecture tape on which a lecture is recorded, a series of lecture addresssignals recorded on said lecture tape at locations identifying selectedportions of said lecture, an answer tape on which a series of answers toquestions that may be raised by said lecture are recorded in spacedsequential locations, a series of answer address signals recorded onsaid answer tape at locations identifying the beginning of each recordedanswer, a tape recorder comprising switching means for selectivelyreproducing signals recorded on two tapes and adapted to receive saidlecture and answer tapes, and means controlled by said address signalsand said switching means for moving said answer tape to a locationcorrelated with the position of said lecture tape while said taperecorder is reproducing said lecture.
 2. In an interactive teachingsystem, the combination comprising a tape recorder adapted to receivetwo tapes, said tape recorder cOmprising a first set of transducers forreproducing signals recorded on a first tape, a second set oftransducers for reproducing signals recorded on a second tape, firstreversible drive means for transporting a first tape received by saidrecorder in opposite directions over a range of positions adjacent saidfirst set of transducers, second reversible drive means for transportinga second tape received by said recorder in opposite directions over arange of positions adjacent said second set of transducers, graphicrecording means responsive to applied signals for producing a graphicdisplay, an acoustic transducer responsive to applied signals forproducing an audible signal, switching means settable to first andsecond states, means controlled by said switching means in its firststate for connecting a first transducer of said first set to saidgraphic recording means and connecting a second transducer of said firstset to said acoustic transducer, means controlled by said switchingmeans in its second state for connecting a first transducer of saidsecond set to said graphic recording means and connecting a secondtransducer of said second set to said acoustic transducer, and sensingmeans responsive to the positions of tapes received by said recorder andactuated by said switching means in its first state for controlling saidsecond drive means to transport the second tape to a position relativeto said second set of transducers determined by the position of thefirst tape relative to said first set of transducers.
 3. The apparatusof claim 2, in which said sensing means comprises a third transducer ofsaid first set for reproducing first address signals recorded on thefirst tape, a first register for storing a first location signaldetermined by the first address signals, a third transducer of saidsecond set for reproducing second address signals recorded on the secondtape, a second register for storing a second location signal determinedby said second address signals, and means responsive to the signalsstored in said registers for controlling said second drive means tobring said stored signals into agreement.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3,further comprising manually operable means for producing a thirdlocation signal, and means controlled by said switching means in itssecond state, said second reigster, and said manually operable means forcontrolling said second drive means to bring the signal stored in saidsecond register into agreement with said third location signal.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4, further comprising means controlled by saidswitching means in its first state, said register, and said manuallyoperable means for controlling said first drive means to bring thesignal stored in said first register into agreement with said thirdlocation signal.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, in which said sensingmeans comprises a first position transducer adapted to engage a firsttape received by said recorder and produce a first position signal inaccordance with the position of the first tape relative to said firstset of transducers, a second position transducer adapted to engage asecond tape received by said recorder and produce a second positionsignal in accordance with the position of the second tape relative tosaid second set of transducers, and means responsive to said positionsignals for controlling said second drive means to bring said positionsignals into agreement.
 7. An interactive teaching system, comprising alecture record on which signals are recorded representing a lecturetogether with a series of address signals distributed in sequencethrough the lecture, an answer record on which a series of signalsrepresenting answers to questions that may be raised by the lecture arerecorded in a spaced sequence interspersed with a series of addresssignals in one-to-one correspondence with the series of address signalson said lecture record, first transducers means for reproducing signalsfrom a relatively movIng record, first drive means adapted to engagesaid lecture record and move it relative to said first transducer meansover a predetermined path, second transducer means for reproducingsignals from a relatively moving record, second drive means adapted toengage said second record and operable to move said second recordrelative to said second transducer means over a predetermined path,switching means settable to first and second states, an acoustictransducer, first register means controlled by address signalsreproduced by said first transducer means for storing a signalrepresenting the current location of said first record relative to saidfirst transducer means when said first record is engaged by said firstdrive means, second register means controlled by address signalsreproduced by said second transducer means for storing a signalrepresenting the current location of said second record relative to saidfirst transducer means when said second record is engaged with saidsecond drive means, means controlled by said switching means forconnecting said first or said second transducer means to said acoustictransducer according as said switching means is in its first or itssecond state, respectively, and means actuated by said switching meansin its first state and controlled by said first and second registermeans for operating said second drive means to move said second recordrelative to said second transducer means until the signals stored insaid register means are in agreement.
 8. An interactive teaching system,comprising a lecture record on which signals are recorded representing alecture together with a series of address signals distributed insequence through the lecture, and at least one comment signal at apredetermined point in the lecture, a first set of said signalsidentifying the locations of predetermined points in the lecture, ananswer record on which a series of signals representing answers toquestions that may be raised by the lecture are recorded in a spacedsequence interspersed with recorded signals representing at least onecomment which may be an answer to a question that may be raised by thelecture, said answer and comment being interspersed with a series ofaddress signals in one-to-one correspondence with the series of addresssignals on said lecture record, each of the address signals nextpreceding an answer being in a second set, each of said address signalspreceding a comment in a third set, said sets being mutuallynon-intersecting, first transducer means for reproducing signals from arelatively moving record, first drive means adapted to engage saidlecture record and move it relative to said first transducer means overa predetermined path, second transducer means for reproducing signalsfrom a relatively moving record, second drive means adapted to engagesaid second record and operable to move said second record relative tosaid second transducer means over a predetermined path, switching meanssettable to first and second states, an acoustic transducer, firstregister means controlled by address signals reproduced by said firsttransducer means for storing a signals representing the current locationof said first record relative to said first transducer means when saidfirst record is engaged by said first drive means, second register meanscontrolled by address signals reproduced by said second transducer meansfor storing a signal representing the current location of said secondrecord relative to said second transducer means when said second recordis engaged with said second drive means, means controlled by saidswitching means for connecting said first or said second transducermeans to said acoustic transducer according as said switching means isin its first or its second state, respectively, means actuated by saidswitching means in its first state and controlled by said first andsecond register means for operating said second drive means to move saidsecond record relative to said second transducer means until the Signalsstored in said register means are in agreement, and means responsive toa comment signal reproduced by said first transducer means for settingsaid switching means to its second state.
 9. In combination, a firstsupply reel, a first takeup reel, a lecture tape having a lecturerecorded thereon and opposite ends connected one to said first supplyreel and one to said first takeup reel for movement therebetween inopposite directions relative to a first playback station upon rotationof said first reel, a second supply reel, a second takeup reel, ananswer tape having a series of answers to questions that may be raisedby the lecture recorded thereon and opposite ends connected one to saidsecond supply reel and one to said second takeup reel for movementtherebetween in opposite directions relative to a second playbackstation upon rotation of said second reels, first means for rotatingsaid first reels, second means for rotating said second reels, means forselectively playing said lecture tape or said answer tape, and meanseffective when said lecture tape is being played for rotating saidsecond reels to move said answer tape to positions relative to saidsecond playback station determined by the position of said lecture taperelative to said first playback station.
 10. In an interactive teachingsystem, the combination comprising a lecture record on which a lectureand a first series of address signals at predetermined points in saidlecture are recorded, an answer record on which a series of answers toquestions that may be raised by points in the lecture and acorresponding second series of address signals are recorded, at least asubset of said address signals on said answer record being located onsaid answer record at the beginnings of said answers, record playingmeans adapted to receive said records, said record playing meanscomprising first transducer means movable relative to said first recordfor reproducing signals recorded thereon, second transducer meansmovable relative to said second record for reproducing signals recordedthereon, a speaker, means for selectively connecting one or the other ofsaid transducer means to said speaker to reproduce lecture or answersignals from said first or said second record, respectively, meanscontrolled by both of said transducer means and responsive to saidaddress signals on both of said records for sensing the relativepositions of said records relative to their associated transducer means,and means controlled by said sensing means to move said answer recordrelative to said second transducer means to a position determined by theposition of said lecture record relative to said first transducer meanswhile said first transducer means is connected to said speaker.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, further comprising manual means for producing arequested address signal in said second series, and means controlled bysaid manual means and said sensing means for moving said answer recordrelative to said second transducer means to a position determined bysaid requested address signal.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, furthercomprising a lecture map on which are perceptibly recorded an outline ofsaid lecture, a list of questions corresponding to said recordedanswers, means for associating each question with a point in saidlecture that may raise the question, and means identifying each of saidsubset of address signals associated with a different one of saidquestions.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a graphicrecorder responsive to applied position signals for producing a graphicdisplay, and in which at least one set of position signals is recordedon at least one of said records, and further comprising coupling meanscomprising at least one of said transducer means for applying saidposition signals to said recorded when the record on which said positionsignals are recorded is being reproduced by said speaker.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13, in which said position sIgnals are frequencymodulated, and in which a reference signal at constant frequency isrecorded simultaneously with said position signal for reproductiontherewith by said transducer means, and further comprising meansresponsive to said reproduced reference signal for compensating saidposition signals for wow and flutter frequency deviations while applyingsaid position signals to said recorder.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11,further comprising a graphic recorder responsive to applied positionsignals for producing a graphic display, and in which at least one setof position signals is recorded on at least one of said records, andfurther comprising coupling means comprising at least one of saidtransducer means for applying said position signals to said recorderwhen the record on which said position signals are recorded is beingreproduced by said speaker.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, in which saidposition signals are frequency modulated, and in which a response signalat constant frequency is recorded simultaneously with said positionsignals for reproduction therewith by said transducer means, and furthercomprising means responsive to said reproduced reference signal forcompensating said position signals for wow and flutter frequencydeviations while applying said position, signals to said recorded. 17.In an interactive communication system, the combination comprising alecture tape on which a lecture is recorded, a series of lecture addresssignals recorded on said lecture tape at locations identifying selectedportions of said lecture, an answer tape on which a series of answers toquestions that may be raised by said lecture are recorded in spacedsequential locations, a series of answer address signals recorded onsaid answer tape at locations identifying the beginning of each recordedanswer, a tape recorder comprising switching means for selectivelyreproducing signals recorded on two tapes and adapted to receive saidlecture and said answer tapes, means controlled by said address signalsand said switching means for moving said answer tape to a locationcorrelated with the position of said lecture tape while said taperecorder is reproducing said lecture, manual means for producing arequested address signal in said series, and means controlled by saidmanual means and said answer address signals for moving said answer tapeto the location at which the answer corresponding to said requestedaddress signal begsins.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, furthercomprising a lecture map on which are perceptibly recorded an outline ofsaid lecture, a list of questions corresponding to said recordedanswers, means for associating each question with a point in the lecturethat may raise the question, and means identifying the address signal atthe location at which the answer to the question begins associated witheach question.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising agraphic recorder responsive to applied position signals for producing agraphic display, and in which at least one set of position signals isrecorded on at least one of said tapes, and further comprising couplingmeans comprising said tape recorder for applying said position signalsto said graphic recorder when the tape on which said position signals isrecorded is being reproduced by said tape recorded.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 19, in which said position signals are frequency modulated, and inwhich a response signal at constant frequency is recorded simultaneouslywith said position signal for reproduction therewith by said transducermeans, and further comprising means responsive to said reproducedreference signal for compensating said position signals for wow andflutter frequency deviations while applying said position signals tosaid graphic recorder.
 21. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprisinga lecture map on which are perceptibly recorded an outline of saidlecture, a list of questions corresponding to said recorder answers,means for associating each quesTion with a point in said lecture thatmay raise the question, and means identifying each of said answeraddress signals associated with a different on of said questions.
 22. Inan interactive teaching system, the combination comprising a taperecorder adapted to receive two tapes, said tape recorder comprising afirst set of transducers for reproducing signals recorded on a firsttape, a second set of transducers for reproducing signals recorded on asecond tape, first reversible drive means for transporting a first tapereceived by said recorder in opposite directions over a range ofpositions adjacent said first set of transducers, second reversibledrive means for transporting a second tape received by said recorder inopposite directions over a range of positions adjacent said second setof transducers, graphic recording means responsive to applied signalsfor producing a graphic display, an acoustic transducer responsive toapplied signals for producing an audible signal, switching meanssettable to first and second states, means actuated by said switchingmeans in its first state for connecting a first transducer of said firstset to said graphic recording means and connecting a second transducerof said first set to said acoustic transducer, means actuated by saidswitching means in its second state for connecting a first transducer ofsaid second set to said graphic recording means and connecting a secondtransducer of said second set to said acoustic transducer, meansresponsive to the position of a first tape received by said recorderrelative to said first transducer means for producing a first signal,means responsive to the position of a second tape received by saidrecorder relative to said second transducer means for producing a secondsignal, manually operable means for producing a third signal, meansactuated by said switching means in its first state and responsive tosaid first and third signals for operating said first drive means tomove the first tape to a position relative to said first transducermeans determined by said third signal, and means actuated by saidswitching means in its second state and responsive to said first andsecond signals for operating said first drive means to move the firsttape to a position relative to said first transducer means determined bysaid second signal.
 23. In an interactive teaching system, thecombination comprising a lecture record on which a lecture is recorded,an answer record on which a series of answers to questions that may beraised by points in the lecture are recorded, record playing meansadapted to receive said records, said record playing means comprising afirst transducer movable relative to said lecture record for reproducingsignals recorded thereon, a second transducer movable relative to saidanswer record for reproducing signals recorded thereon, a speaker, meansfor selectively connecting one or the other of said transducers to saidspeaker to reproduce signals from said lecture or said answer record,respectively, means for sensing the relative positions of said recordsrelative to their associated transducer, and means controlled by saidsensing means to move said answer record relative to said secondtransducer to a position determined by the position of said lecturerecord relative to said first transducer while said first transducer isconnected to said speaker, in which said lecture record comprises alecture tape on which said lecture is recorded, in which said answerrecord comprises an answer tape on which said answers are recorded inspaced sequential locations, in which said record playing means is atape recorder adapted to receive said lecture tape and said answer tapefor said movement relative to said transducer, in which said means forsensing the relative positions of said records comprises a series oflecture address signals recorded on said lecture tapes at locationsidentifying selected portions of said lecture, a series of answeraddress signals rEcorded on said answer tape at locations identifyingthe beginning of each recorded answer, and signal detecting meanscontrolled by said address signals, and in which said means controlledby said sensing means comprises means controlled by said address signaldetecting means and means for connecting said transducers to saidspeaker for moving said answer tape relative to said second transducerto a position determined by the position of said lecture tape relativeto said second transducer while said first transducer is connected tosaid speaker.
 24. An interactive communication system, comprising afirst record on which signals representing a first audiovisualpresentation are recorded together with first address signalsidentifying predetermined locations on said first record, a secondrecord on which signals representing a series of other audiovisualpresentations are recorded together with second address signalsidentifying the location of each of said other audiovisual presentationsignals on said second record, first playback means movable relative tosaid first record and selectively operable to reproduce signals recordedthereon, second playback means movable relative to second record andselectively operable to reproduce the signals recorded thereon, firstswitching means settable to first and second states, an audiovisualsystem responsive to applied signals representing an audiovisualpresentation for producing the audiovisual presentation represented bythe applied signals, means actuated by said first switching means in itsfirst state for applying signals from said first record to saidaudiovisual system, second switching means settable to first and secondstates, means actuated by said first switching means in its second stateand said second switching means in its first state for applying signalsfrom said second playback means representing audiovisual presentationsto said audiovisual system, manually operable means for producing adesired address signal, means actuated by said first switching means inits second state and said second switching means in its first state andcontrolled by address signals produced by said second playback means andsaid desired address signal for moving said second playback meansrelative to said second record to selectively reproduce the audiovisualpresentation identified by said desired address signal, means forsensing said first and second address signals, and means actuated bysaid first switching means in its first state and said second switchingmeans in its second state and controlled by said sensing means inresponse to said first and second address signals for moving said secondplayback means relative to said second record to positions correlatedwith the positions of said first record while said first record issupplying signals to said audiovisual system, in which said firstaudiovisual presentation is a lecture accompanied by at least onegraphic display, in which said second audiovisual presentation is aseries of answers to questions that may be raised by points in thelecture accompanied by at least one graphic display, said recordedsignals comprising audio signals and position signals determinative ofsaid graphic display, and in which said audiovisual system comprises aspeaker, a graphic recorder responsive to applied position signals forproducing a graphic display, and a lecture map on which are perceptiblyrecorded an outline of said lecture, a list of questions correspondingto said recorded answers, means for associating each question with apoint in said lecture that may raise the question, and means identifyingeach of said second address signals associated with a different one ofsaid questions, said first switching means in its first state applyingsignals from said first record to said speaker and said graphicrecorder, and said means actuated by said first switching means in itssecond state and said second switching means in its first statecomprising means for applying signals from said second rEcord to saidspeaker and said graphic recorder.